CANCER patients have been given their second tonic within a week after it was revealed that £1m of lottery cash will buy equipment to slash waiting lists and help treat East Lancashire people.

The Lancashire and Lakeland Radiotherapy Unit at Royal Preston Hospital will receive the cash for a fifth linear accelerator - in addition to the £2million for an MRI scanner and linear accelerator announced last week.

Health Secretary Frank Dobson announced the grant - part of £23million to be shared between 24 hospitals - at the Labour Party Conference.

He said: "Cancer affects almost every family in the country at some time.

"People who play the lottery support their money being invested in projects like this. The Government is determined that the lottery provides what people want.

"For the first time every hospital will have modern and reliable equipment. This will help cut waiting times and minimise cancellations, frustration and anxiety." Linear accelerators generate high-energy radiation beams to treat cancer and the cash will be used for one of the latest models, which include devices to shape the beam to match the tumour.

The extra lifesaving equipment will turn the Royal Preston Hospital into a cancer treatment centre to rival the Christie Hospital, Manchester, and East Lancashire cancer sufferers will be able to opt for out-patient treatment at Preston, avoiding the 40-mile trip to Manchester for overnight stays.

From next year, patients suffering from breast, lung, gastro-intestinal, urinary, gynaecological and bone cancer as well as leukaemia will be given the opportunity to be treated at Preston.

Dr Graham Read, director of specialist services at the Royal Preston Hospital, said he was ecstatic at the news.

He said: "This has exceeded my expectations. By the time we have five accelerators we may be able to do away with waiting lists altogether. It's very exciting."

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